MUKILTEO — The new Mukilteo ferry terminal is finally getting its feet wet.
Washington State Ferries on Monday awarded a $26.4 million contract to Seattle-based Manson Construction to build the marine structures for the new terminal.
These include the vehicle transfer bridge, overhead pedestrian walkway and other components. It also covers demolishing the old terminal and nearby fishing pier, and building a new fishing pier closer to the ferry action.
“The good thing is this keeps us on schedule,” ferries spokeswoman Diane Rhodes said. “This is what we wanted to do.”
A total of $187.3 million has been allocated for the project slated for completion in fall of 2020.
Terminal construction was delayed in August when five bids on the major phase were rejected due to being over the Department of Transportation estimate of $65 million.
After seeking feedback from bidders, some aspects were re-examined and tweaked. That led to a decision to split it into two contracts, one for upland buildings and another for remaining marine elements.
“Now these things can go in tandem and keep us on schedule,” Rhodes said.
She said Manson Construction was the lowest bid.
Work on the passenger building, holding lanes, toll plaza, maintenance building and waterfront promenade began in January. IMCO General Construction, the lowest bidder, landed the contract for $49.7 million.
Things are taking shape. Walls are up. With a little imagination (and maybe some help from an artist’s rendering), you can picture a relaxing ferry experience in the foreseeable future. At the new terminal, walk-on passengers will board while vehicles load from the car deck below.
The marine contract begins in August, with in-water work in the fall. No in-water work can occur during the fish migration window through July. A species monitoring program is in place throughout construction to limit impact on protected species.
An open house on the entire waterfront project is Thursday at Mukilteo’s Rosehill Community Center. Between 5 and 6 p.m., people can review information boards and talk with project team members to learn more about what’s happening at the construction site, what to expect over the summer months and changes in fares.
The community meeting starts at 6 p.m. Thursday at the center, 304 Lincoln Ave.
The new terminal is one-third of a mile east of the existing one. The Mukilteo-Clinton route serves more than 4 million ferry riders each year and is one of the busiest routes.
Andrea Brown: abrown@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3443. Twitter @reporterbrown.
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